There are about 200,000 motorcyclists in North Carolina, and if a Gaston County lawmaker gets his way, they'll be riding under a new law.

The proposal, House Bill 109, would allow riders 21 and over to ride without a helmet, as long as they have $10,000 in medical coverage in case of a wreck.

We strongly encourage lawmakers to consider what's at stake here.

The consequences of injuries from motorcycle accidents, for both the victim and sometimes others, outweigh any personal freedom that motorcyclists would receive under this bill.

For starters, $10,000 would only begin to cover the cost of a serious motorcycle related injury. And states that have passed a similar bill, like Florida, have seen an increase in motorcycle related deaths.

Our state's motorcycle laws have been rated among the most effective in the country. Let's use our heads, and keep it that way.